Dunster Castle; - Luttrell, Esq. This is a fine old castle, situated high up the side of a conical hill on the sea coast; with a park, consisting of a valley opening to the sea, with the sides finely clothed with wood. The meadows are mown or pastured, and appear as smooth as a lawn; while those parts of the hill sides not covered with wood exhibit ferns, hollies, and thorns, unmixed with foreign trees, and in such a state as we may suppose they were in when the castle was built, in the time of Henry VIII. or Elizabeth. There is no want of scenery of this kind in the parks of England, but it is not often that it belongs to a really old castle, with all its grandeur and simplicity. Many modern castles have, in our opinion, so much architectural display exteriorly, that we never for a moment suppose them to be old. The ancient entrance to Dunster Castle is through the straight street of Dunster town, the gateway to the Castle forming its termination. The actual entrance, at present, is by a winding road, which gradually ascends the hill to the Castle court. The Castle itself has, in the interior, undergone several alterations, some in good and others in bad taste. There are an excellent carved balustrade to the principal staircase representing a hunt, and a very beautiful ceiling; but the windows, which have been ornamented within subsequently, are in Batty Langley Gothic. The Castle is surrounded by terraces; and against the walls are some fine exotics, among which are a large lemon tree protected by glass during winter, a large pomegranate, large myrtles, passion flowers, wistarias, coronillas, and an immense hydrangea with both blue and pink flowers as a finale. Higher up than the Castle court, on the summit of the hill, is an oval bowling green, approached by a winding path, which commands a panoramic view of the surrounding country, including the bold promontory of Minehead, the sea, and the mountains of South Wales. The whole place was in excellent order, and appropriate keeping.
